The Kinston stormed past Goldsboro, 71-44, Friday at Viking Gym in the Eastern Carolina 2A Conference tournament championship game, completing the eighth consecutive season in which Kinston has swept both the regular season and conference tournament titles.

The Vikings (20-4) have not lost a conference tournament game since falling to Southern Wayne in the old Eastern Carolina 3A Conference back on Feb. 17, 2006.

Kinston led by as many as 30 in the fourth quarter against the Cougars and will open the defense of their 2A state championship on Monday at home.

“The expectations are high every year,” Kinston coach Perry Tyndall said. “The community expects us to win, and we expect to win. It's a standard of excellence we've set, and no one expects more from us than we expect from ourselves.”

For the past eight seasons, Kinston has faced little resistance in reaching one of the goals: the league championship.

Against Goldsboro it was more of the same. In fact, it might have been one of Kinston's best performances of the season.

“I couldn't be more pleased or proud of what this team has accomplished,” Tyndall said. “Tonight we played at an extremely high level, both offensively and defensively. It's difficult for me to find an area that we didn't excel in.”

The Vikings showed balance with three players in double figures and five with at least seven points, they shot the ball well (27 of 46 for 59 percent), and they forced 13 turnovers while holding the Cougars to 35 percent shooting (17 of 46).

Goldsboro entered the game as one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the area but managed just two of 14 from behind the arc against Kinston's pressure.

“We knew we had to defend the three and stop their dribble penetration,” Tyndall said. “Their guards are so quick and very good at penetrating and then kicking out for the three. I thought we did an outstanding job of limiting those opportunities.”

Offensively, the Vikings proved very efficient, even with junior standout Brandon Ingram scoring just 10 points.

Mykel Hart stepped up with a team-high 14 and Andrew Lopez added 12.

“We got excellent contributions from just about everyone,” Tyndall said. “Offense, defense, rebounding, passing, you name it. We were very unselfish and team-oriented. Everyone who played had a hand in this victory.”

The Vikings never let Goldsboro settle in, racing to a 17-10 lead after one quarter and a 34-17 advantage at intermission.

“I told the guys at halftime that they had played an almost perfect half of basketball,” Tyndall said. “I challenged them to go back out and do it again, and they did.”

He added, “We seem to be peaking at the right time. I hope that's a preview of what's to come.”